Raising two boys can be challenging for any single mother, but for Lois Bolton, that challenge was exacerbated by the fact that she did not have a car.
That meant waking up each weekday at 5 a.m. to get her sons to school by bus before going to work. The process took about two hours, and she had to repeat it in reverse at the end of the day, Bolton said.
"It's been really hard," Bolton said.
That all changed Wednesday, when Bolton received a refurbished 2017 Jeep Renegade, free of charge, courtesy of a group that included Pikes Peak United Way, GEICO Insurance, Crash Champions Collision Repair, the National Auto Body Council and a host of other businesses and organizations.
The NABC Recycled Rides program partners with organizations across the U.S. to restore damaged vehicles and donate them to families in need. Since the program's 2007 inception, more than 3,500 vehicles have been donated to veterans, military families and single mothers, according to NABC board member Steve Fardelos.
"Reliable transportation is something most of us take for granted, but it's so important," Fardelos said.
"It represents independence. Having the ability to get to work, care for your children, get to medical appointments is crucial. This is a worthwhile cause, and we're happy to be a part of it."
The program receives donated cars that have been totaled, or nearly totaled, in accidents, then partners with a body shop to restore it to pre-crash condition. Crash Champions, a collision repair company with more than 600 locations in 37 states -- including Colorado Springs -- agreed to take on the task of repairing Bolton's vehicle.
"The vehicle had a lot of damage to the front and roof," said Jerry Schneider, Crash Champions regional director of operations.
It took several months to get the right replacement parts before beginning the work to restore the vehicle to near-perfect condition. According to Schneider, "good enough" isn't good enough.
"We wanted to get this car to 100%, from making sure it was mechanically sound, down to getting the car detailed and shampooing the interior, so that when we unveil it, it's ready to rock," he said. "We wanted to make sure it was done right. We take pride in this."
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The auto body repair company performed 31 restorations across the U.S. last year and already have 16 projects lined up for 2025, officials said.
"It takes a lot of work, but it's for a good cause," Schneider said. "That makes it fun."
Pikes Peak United Way, in partnership with local charities, is tasked with identifying a family in need of a vehicle.
"I met Lois through a life coach at Catholic Charities," said Mira Benegas, a community resource advocate with Pikes Peak United Way.
"She has been working really hard to improve her situation for her family, and she had three main goals: Housing, employment and transportation. Lois had reached two of her goals, and only needed the transportation, before today."
Representatives from Pikes Peak United Way, GEICO and NABC were on hand when Crash Champions unveiled the car. Overcome with emotion, Bolton got into the Jeep and turned the ignition key. When the vehicle started, everyone in the garage applauded.
"I'm so excited, and relieved, and grateful," she said. "This is going to make my life so much easier."
Now that Bolton has a vehicle that runs like new, she can focus on her next goal, which is to open an online gift shop, she said.
But on Wednesday afternoon, she was looking forward to picking her sons up from school.
"My boys are so excited," Bolton said. "They can't wait for me to pick them up today."
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